Since 1998, Blast has provided a fast, safe, and economical way to travel around Turlock for work, school, appointments, and shopping. Routes are designed to meet the needs and convenience of as many passengers as possible and help ease the demands of living in today’s fast paced culture.
Tips on Riding BLAST
BLAST buses will pull over only at designated stops marked with a bus stop sign. Please be at your stop 5 minutes early. Call 668-5600 for help in finding out where and when you can catch the bus in your area.
To help keep BLAST running smoothly and on time, please have your exact change, ticket, or BLAST pass ready. Drivers can not make change.
To get on BLAST, be ready at a designated stop and wave at the bus as it approaches so that the driver knows you want to ride- BLAST buses only stop if someone wants to get on or get off the bus. Back away from the curb as the bus approaches to avoid the mirror on the side of the bus.
If your trip will use two different routes, ask the driver for a Transfer Pass as you board the first bus. Unless you have a BLAST pass, transfers between BLAST routes can only be made at the Transfer Hub.
To get off BLAST, signal the driver at least one block before your stop. Then the bus will stop as close to the next bus stop as can be done safely. Please exit through the rear door when possible so that new passengers can enter through the front door.
BLAST and DART Tips
BLAST Tip #123:
Customize your BLAST brochure by circling stops, times, and transfers while trip planning for quick and easy reference later on- do this for both legs of your round trip. If you want another brochure for another trip, just pick one up from the bus the next time you ride.
BLAST Tip #2.5:
If you’re making a round trip on BLAST that requires a Transfer Pass, consider getting an All Day Pass instead of buying single fares. For the same cost, an All-Day Pass will let you ride BLAST as many times as you want for the rest of that day and make ‘transfers’ to other BLAST routes anywhere you want. If you qualify for Discount fares, a Discount All Day Pass actually costs less than a round trip using single fares with a transfer.
BLAST Tip #3 or 4:
Pick up a couple extra brochures and keep them all over the place: one at work or school, one in your briefcase or backpack, and a couple extras at home. Then you can also share one with a friend.
BLAST Tip #50/25:
If you ride BLAST regularly, a Monthly Pass is much more convenient than having the exact change everyday for single trip fares. Buy a Monthly Pass and for that whole month you can ride and ‘transfer’ as many times as you want without ever worrying about having the exact change again.
A Monthly Pass or Discount Monthly Pass can also save you some serious money if you ride more than 16 round trips each month (or 14 round trips if you need a transfer). Every ride after that will be FREE for the rest of that month, so the more you ride, the more you’ll save. The same is true for the half-month, “after the 15th“ pass when you ride more than 8 round trips before the end of the month. With a Student Monthly Pass, you’ll ride for free after only 14 round trips each month, or 12 round trips if you also buy transfers. (See Frequently Asked Questions for more info on Monthly Passes).
BLAST Tip #86:
Please be ready at your BLAST bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus’s estimated departure time to avoid missing your bus. The times shown on the timetables are approximate due to the unpredictable nature of traffic, weather, and roadway conditions. As part of our ongoing effort to stay on the posted schedules, our BLAST buses and dispatch offices are equipped with atomic clocks that synchronize themselves daily by a radio signal from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Please do your part to be ready by arriving a little early and checking and resetting your watch periodically.
Accessibility
All BLAST buses are wheelchair accessible and while on the bus, all wheelchairs must be secured with tie-down straps.
